Faucet.



Patented Aug. I3, I91.

N. M. HOPKINS.

F AUGET.

(Application filed Ap 7, 1900. Renewed July 10, 1901.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOI'? me rimms r-Elcns cafinc ouma. wAsMma'roM, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEVIL MONROE HOPKINS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ANTI-BURSTING PIPE COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

. FAUCET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,329, dated August 13, 1901.

Application filed April '7, 1900. Renewed July 10, 1901. Serial No. 67,811. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NEvIL MONROE Hor- KINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Faucets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in faucets, and has for its object to provide aconstruction of such charter or the ice into the relief-chamber of the faucet, so as to exert the maximum lifting power upon the valve without imposing undue strain upon the walls of the faucet itself.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated in vertical cross-section a form of faucet embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates the discharge branch of the faucet, and B the supply branch thereof, provided with the coupling screw-thread a and annular flange h for the purpose of making connection with the supply-main. Between the branches A and B is located the relief-chamber C, screwthreaded at its upper end for the reception of the closing-cap D and also screw-threaded internally, as shown. ternal screw-thread of the relief-chamber O is a screw-threaded disk E, having a hollow stem 1), which passes through an opening in the cap D and which is provided at its upper end with the operating-handle F. The stem 1) is hollow and receives the stem 0 of a valve (Z, which is adapted to rest upon a raised seat e of the :faucet and which is normally held water-tight upon said seat by means of a spring f, reacting between suitable seats, as

Engaging with the in-' shown, upon the upper surface of the valve d and upon the lower surface of the disk E. Itwill be noted that the configuration and arrangement of the branch 13 are such that the water column exerts a direct pressure upon the spring-seated valve d, and the configuration of the branch B is such that it approaches the valve seat in the form of a gradual curve, so as to reduce as far as possible the strain of the expanding ice column upon the walls of the faucet, while still giving to the column the necessary guiding or directing tendency to cause it to readily raise the valve and enter the relief-chamber O.

In the operation of my invention I so gradn ate the length of the internal screw-thread of the relief chamber 0 and so graduate the strength of the spring f that when the disk E is screwed down to its lowermost limit the valve (1 will resist the maximum water-pressure of the service-main. When the disk E is screwed down, therefore, nodanger of leakage of the faucet need be apprehended from waterpressure within the main, although it will be evident that by operating the handle F, so as to partially relieve the pressure of the spring f upon the valve, a corresponding flow of water through the branch A may be obtained by the operator. Under normal conditions,therefore, the faucet is constantly available for obtaining a flow of water from the main of the volume desired by the user, but will remain permanently closed against the maximum water-pressure existing in the main when the disk E is screwed down to its lowermost limit. On the other hand, should the column of water within and in the vicinity of the faucet begin to freeze and expand the expanding column of freezing water or ice will be guided upwardly through the curved branch B and, raising the valve d, will enter the relief-chamber 0, thereby saving the fancet from rupture.

The spring-seated valve (1 subserves best its function of protecting the faucet against bursting when located, as shown in the drawing, at the extreme outlet end of the branch B. In some instances, however, the spring seated valve 0% might be employed to protect a faucet against bursting if said relief-valve were locatedin near proximity to the fancet-as, for instance, in a fitting or couplingpiece interposed between the water-main and the inlet end of the branch B, in which case the lower wall of the coupling would be provided with oppositely-curved inclines of such a configuration as to direct the expanding freezing water or ice column upwardly against the lower surface of the valve in manner similar to direction given to the freezing Water or ice column in the faucet branch B shown in the drawing. I regard this modification of the invention as less advantageous than the combined faucet and relief-valve illustrated in the drawing, but describe it in order to indicate the scope and extent of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A non-bursting faucet, comprising an inlet branch, a discharge branch, '21. relief-chamher, and a pressure-valve normally closing the inlet branch, said inlet branch being of 11011 diminishing bore and having its interiorwalls free of shoulders, abrupt curves, or other obstructions to the free movement of the ice column: along the inlet branch,to the valveopening. e r a 2. A non-bursting faucet, comprising an 1nlet branch, at discharge branch, a relief-chain ber, and a pressure-valve normally closing the inlet branch, said inlet branchhaving a gradual' curvature between the water-supply end and the valve-seat end and of non-diminishing bore in the direction of the flow, so as to relieve strain upon the faucet-walls and direct the freezing Water or ice column without unagainst the valve; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

NEVIL MONROE HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, A. E. GRANT. 

